Charing Cross Hospital

Charing Cross Hospital was established in 1823 in Villiers Street, London, as a charitable institution known as the West London Infirmary. The institution had its origins in a meeting initiated by Dr Benjamin Golding in 1818. The infirmary provided accommodation for twelve beds, and became known as Charing Cross Hospital in 1827. A new building was opened in Agar Street in 1834 with accommodation for twenty-two students, and was extended several times. After the second world war it was decided that the hospital should move out of central London, and in 1957 a link was proposed with Fulham and West London Hospitals. The new Charing Cross Hospital was opened in 1973 on Fulham Palace Road, on the site of the old Fulham Hospital. John Howship (1781-1841) was assistant surgeon, 1834-1836, and then surgeon, 1836-1841, to Charing Cross Hospital. His casebooks contain notes and letters concerning patient cases, and some illustrations.